Air Peace: High in Cockpit, Death in the Skies?

Spread the love

Editorial

The recent shocking revelation that some Air Peace pilots may be abusing illicit drugs is a national alarm bell. A pilot under the influence is not just careless — he is a disaster in uniform. Hundreds of lives hang on his judgment. One slip, one haze of intoxication, and an aircraft becomes nothing more than a flying coffin.

Nigeria cannot afford this recklessness. Air Peace is the country’s biggest carrier, flying thousands of passengers daily. Its pilots are trusted with lives, and trust is sacred in aviation. Any breach of that trust is betrayal — betrayal of passengers, of families, and of the nation.

This is not the time for excuses or cover-ups. The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority must act decisively: immediate random testing, transparent results, lifetime bans for culprits. Anything less is complicity. Air Peace, too, must show that it values safety above profit by instituting strict internal checks and enforcing zero tolerance.

But beyond punishment, Nigeria must confront the deeper failure: oversight. How many impaired pilots have already flown unnoticed? How many flights have carried passengers while danger sat in the cockpit? These are questions regulators must answer honestly.

Air travel is built on confidence. If Nigerians start to doubt their pilots, the entire industry will collapse. Safety must remain absolute — not negotiable, not compromised.

The truth is stark: a pilot cannot be “high” and safe at the same time.

The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), had said that the crew tested positive for the substances after the aircraft they flew was involved in a runway excursion at the Port Harcourt International Airport on July 13, 2025.

“Initial toxicological tests conducted on the flight crew revealed positive results for certain substances, including indicators of alcohol consumption. A cabin crew member also tested positive for THC, the psychoactive component in cannabis.” The report stated.

According to the report, the domestic flight, which took off from Lagos, experienced an unstabilised final approach before landing long on Runway 21.

The investigators revealed that the aircraft touched down 2,264 metres from the runway threshold, well beyond the recommended touchdown zone, and eventually came to a stop at 209 metres into the clearway.

Ironically, Air Peace has totally rejected NSIB report insisting instead that the airline has not received any query from the supervisory agency—NSIB.

Air Peace has told Nigerians that, the First Officer (Co-pilot), who ‘demonstrated professionalism’ in calling for a go-around to his captain, has been reinstated into active flying duties, with full approval from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

“The NCAA cleared him. If he was involved in drug or alcohol use, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority would not have cleared him to resume flight duties.

“However, if the relieved captain tested positive to the breathalyser test, then we must increase the frequency of our alcohol and drug tests on our crew.” The management of Air Peace arrogantly defended their captain, co-pilot and cabin crew who NSIB accused of using cannabis, substances and alcohol when they flew the Lagos-Port Harcout flight.

The NSIB must follow through its investigation on the near death situation and conclude the report issued by Mrs. Bimbo Oladeji, Director of Public Affairs and Family Assistance at Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau, which stated that: “Initial toxicological tests conducted on the flight crew revealed positive results for certain substances, including—cabin crew member who also tested positive for THC, the psychoactive component in cannabis.

NSIB must be ready to transparently investigate Air Peace to guarantee the safety of Nigerians.

Finally, Air Peace must drop the drugs the NSIB has accused the airline of, or drop the wings.